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Simple Vs Advanced Data Binding

Simple Data Binding:

Customer IDCompany NameContact NameContact TitleAddressCityRegionPostal CodeCountryPhoneFaxBool
Page size:
 91 items in 10 pages
ALFKIAlfreds FutterkisteMaria AndersSales RepresentativeObere Str. 57Berlin 12209Germany030-0074321030-0076545
ANATRAna Trujillo Emparedados y heladosAna TrujilloOwnerAvda. de la Constitución 2222México D.F. 05021Mexico(5) 555-4729(5) 555-3745
ANTONAntonio Moreno TaqueríaAntonio MorenoOwnerMataderos 2312México D.F. 05023Mexico(5) 555-3932 
AROUTAround the HornThomas HardySales Representative120 Hanover Sq.London WA1 1DPUK(171) 555-7788(171) 555-6750
BERGSBerglunds snabbköpChristina BerglundOrder AdministratorBerguvsvägen 8Luleå S-958 22Sweden0921-12 34 650921-12 34 67
BLAUSBlauer See DelikatessenHanna MoosSales RepresentativeForsterstr. 57Mannheim 68306Germany0621-084600621-08924
BLONPBlondesddsl père et filsFrédérique CiteauxMarketing Manager24, place KléberStrasbourg 67000France88.60.15.3188.60.15.32
BOLIDBólido Comidas preparadasMartín SommerOwnerC/ Araquil, 67Madrid 28023Spain(91) 555 22 82(91) 555 91 99
BONAPBon app'Laurence LebihanOwner12, rue des BouchersMarseille 13008France91.24.45.4091.24.45.41
BOTTMBottom-Dollar MarketsElizabeth LincolnAccounting Manager23 Tsawassen Blvd.TsawassenBCT2F 8M4Canada(604) 555-4729(604) 555-3745

Advanced Data Binding (using the NeedDataSource event):

Customer IDCompany NameContact NameContact TitleAddressCityRegionPostal CodeCountryPhoneFaxBool
Page size:
 91 items in 10 pages
ALFKIAlfreds FutterkisteMaria AndersSales RepresentativeObere Str. 57Berlin 12209Germany030-0074321030-0076545
ANATRAna Trujillo Emparedados y heladosAna TrujilloOwnerAvda. de la Constitución 2222México D.F. 05021Mexico(5) 555-4729(5) 555-3745
ANTONAntonio Moreno TaqueríaAntonio MorenoOwnerMataderos 2312México D.F. 05023Mexico(5) 555-3932 
AROUTAround the HornThomas HardySales Representative120 Hanover Sq.London WA1 1DPUK(171) 555-7788(171) 555-6750
BERGSBerglunds snabbköpChristina BerglundOrder AdministratorBerguvsvägen 8Luleå S-958 22Sweden0921-12 34 650921-12 34 67
BLAUSBlauer See DelikatessenHanna MoosSales RepresentativeForsterstr. 57Mannheim 68306Germany0621-084600621-08924
BLONPBlondesddsl père et filsFrédérique CiteauxMarketing Manager24, place KléberStrasbourg 67000France88.60.15.3188.60.15.32
BOLIDBólido Comidas preparadasMartín SommerOwnerC/ Araquil, 67Madrid 28023Spain(91) 555 22 82(91) 555 91 99
BONAPBon app'Laurence LebihanOwner12, rue des BouchersMarseille 13008France91.24.45.4091.24.45.41
BOTTMBottom-Dollar MarketsElizabeth LincolnAccounting Manager23 Tsawassen Blvd.TsawassenBCT2F 8M4Canada(604) 555-4729(604) 555-3745
Simple Data-binding

RadGrid's simple data-binding through the DataBind() method can be used in simple scenarios which does not require complex operations like insert/delete/update, grouping, hierarchy relations, etc. To use Telerik's ASP.NET DataGrid with simple data binding you should:

  • Set the DataSource property. This property points the database which will be used as a source for your grid instance.
  • Call the DataBind() method when appropriate.

The correct approach when using simple data-binding is to call the DataBind() method on the first page load when !Page.IsPostBack and after handling some event (sort event for example). Keep in mind that if you choose simple data-binding, you will need to assign data-source and rebind the grid after each operation (paging, sorting, editing, etc.) - this copies exactly MS DataGrid behavior.

Advanced Data-binding(using the NeedDataSource event)

The key to the advanced data binding of Telerik RadGrid is handling correctly the NeedDataSource event. That's why we chose this exact name. 'Need' in this case actually means that if at an exact moment the data-source property does not point to a valid data-source object, the grid will not behave correctly.

This event fires in the following cases:

  • Right after OnLoad, Telerik RadGrid checks the viewstate for stored grid-related information. If such information is missing (when the page loads for the first time), the NeedDataSource event is fired. This also means that if the EnableViewState property of the grid  has been set to false, the grid will bind each time the page loads (not only the first time)
  • After automatic sorting
  • When paging event occurs
  • When Edit command is fired
  • Right after Update/Delete/Insert command event handlers finish execution. You can cancel these operations handling the ItemCommand event and assigning false value to the Canceled property of the e event argument
  • When grouping/ungrouping columns - right after the RadGrid.GroupsChanging event is raised.
  • When resorting a group
  • When filtering column values
  • When a call to the Rebind() grid method takes place
  • Prior to any detail table binding
  • In some other custom cases.

The advantages of using this event are that the developer does not need to write any code handling the logic about when and how the data-binding should be processed. It is still the developer's responsibility to construct properly a data source object and assign it to the RadGrid's DataSource property.

In the code of the NeedDataSource handler you should prepare the data source (list of objects) for Telerik RadGrid and assign it to the grid's DataSource property.

Note: You should never call the DataBind() method from inside the NeedDataSource handler or mix simple data-binding mode with advanced data-binding
  • DefaultCS.aspx
  • DefaultCS.aspx.cs
<%@ Page Language="c#" Inherits="Telerik.GridExamplesCSharp.DataBinding.SimpleVsAdvanced.DefaultCS"CodeFile="DefaultCS.aspx.cs"  %>

<%@ Register TagPrefix="telerik" Namespace="Telerik.Web.UI" Assembly="Telerik.Web.UI" %>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>
<head runat="server">
    <title>Telerik ASP.NET Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
    <telerik:RadScriptManager runat="server" ID="RadScriptManager1" />
    <telerik:RadSkinManager ID="RadSkinManager1" runat="server" ShowChooser="true" />
    <telerik:RadAjaxManager ID="RadAjaxManager1" runat="server">
        <AjaxSettings>
            <telerik:AjaxSetting AjaxControlID="RadGrid1">
                <UpdatedControls>
                    <telerik:AjaxUpdatedControl ControlID="RadGrid1"></telerik:AjaxUpdatedControl>
                </UpdatedControls>
            </telerik:AjaxSetting>
            <telerik:AjaxSetting AjaxControlID="RadGrid2">
                <UpdatedControls>
                    <telerik:AjaxUpdatedControl ControlID="RadGrid2"></telerik:AjaxUpdatedControl>
                </UpdatedControls>
            </telerik:AjaxSetting>
        </AjaxSettings>
    </telerik:RadAjaxManager>
    <div class="demo-container no-bg">
        <h2>Simple Data Binding:</h2>
        <telerik:RadGrid RenderMode="Lightweight" runat="server" ID="RadGrid1" AllowPaging="True" AllowSorting="true"
            OnSortCommand="RadGrid1_SortCommand" OnPageIndexChanged="RadGrid1_PageIndexChanged" OnPageSizeChanged="RadGrid1_PageSizeChanged">
        </telerik:RadGrid>
        <br />
        <h2>Advanced Data Binding (using the NeedDataSource event):</h2>
        <telerik:RadGrid RenderMode="Lightweight" runat="server" ID="RadGrid2" AllowPaging="True" AllowSorting="true"
            OnNeedDataSource="RadGrid2_NeedDataSource">
        </telerik:RadGrid>
    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>

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